NOT nOLE NOT DOLE THE DECISIONS of this TUC conference will be the most important since the predecessors of Murray, Sirs and Duffy sold out the General Strike in 1926..
After six months of struggle the miners' strike is at a crucial stage. The sequestration of the funds of the South Wales NUM, and the scabbing by the IST at Hunterston, makes action in support of the miners by the whole movement vital.
The use of the anti-union laws, which will be stepped up after the TUC if the right decisions are not taken, means that the vital interests of the whole trade union movement are involved - just as centrally as in the fight against job losses themselves.
The right wing is well aware of this. They are fighting as openly as Sirs has to scab on the miners.
This right wing are the key obstacle to the successful conclusions of the strike, and to the greatest trade union victory for the working class since the Second World War. These scabs must be openly fought and defeated at this conJerence.
Last year the right wing won the day, and celebrated their victory by betraying the NGA, running away from GCHQ, and refusing to support, indeed openly attacking, the NUM. The left leaders have to take up this challenge - the vital interests of the working class are at stake.
Nothing could be worse at this TUC than hollow formulas for 'unity' which simply concealed inaction and scabbing. The resolutions calling for support for the miners, for respect for picket lines, and for boycott of all coal should be pressed to the vote no matter what the opposition of the right wing or the 'diplomacy' of the General Council.
The right will seek to get some formula that will commit them to nothing. They will claim that the NUM and left are intervening in other unions. Bill Sirs and Eric Hammond have no qualms about doing exactly that when it suits their book, as Hunterston demonstrates. The left of the TUC should intervene in every single union against the likes of Sirs and Hammond The left must reject any formulas that fudge on the question of full support for the miners -including coal boycotts and actions of 24 hour general strike proportions. A call for action from this TUC is essential.
Up to now the NUM has kept the General Council out of the strike. But Congress is not the same thing as the General Council and resolutions can be fought for there and won. It would be better to fight for resolutions for action and be defeated than allow the scabbing role of the right to go unchallenged.
Even if the right wing were to resist or attempt to sabotage action after the Congress, as they certainly would, there is enormous support for the miners throughout the labour movement. More than enough to stop the country and defeat the government. But the campaign for that action has to start this week with a fight at the TUC Congress itself.
Socialist Action 31 August 1984